Morrow pitches shutout as Blue Jays blank Mets

Brandon Morrow pitched his second shutout in four starts in blanking the New York Mets on three hits and leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 2-0 win in MLB interleague play on Saturday.

Morrow (5-2) struck out eight. He has three career shutouts, including a victory over the Los Angeles Angels on May 3.

He also benefited from a close call in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Scott Hairston led off with a walk and went to third on Mike Baxter’s one-out single. Baxter tried to stretch his hit into a double, but was thrown out at second base by Jose Bautista.

Baxter and Mets manager Terry Collins argued with umpire Brian Knight that shortstop Yunel Escobar had failed to tag Baxter. Replays confirmed that Baxter should have been safe.

New York lost for the sixth time in nine games and saw starter Miguel Batista leave with a sore lower back after two scoreless innings.

REDS 6, YANKEES 5

In New York, Joey Votto hit a three-run homer and Jose Arredondo worked out of a ninth-inning jam for his first major league save as Cincinnati held off New York.

New York scored twice off Sean Marshall in the ninth, but Reds manager Dusty Baker pulled his regular closer in favor of Arredondo and he got the job done.

Arredondo entered with runners at first and second and one out, and Derek Jeter grounded his first pitch to third. Cincinnati nearly turned a game-ending double play, but Jeter just beat the relay.

Curtis Granderson then fouled off a 3-0 pitch before topping a slow roller to Votto for the final out.

PIRATES 4, TIGERS 3

In Detroit, Andrew McCutchen hit a pair of two-run homers and A.J. Burnett pitched six solid innings to lead Pittsburgh over Detroit.

A day after Detroit’s Justin Verlander took a no-hitter into the ninth while shutting out the Pirates, McCutchen went deep twice off Tigers rookie Drew Smyly (1-1). It was McCutchen’s sixth career multihomer game and second in three days. He has seven home runs on the season.

Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer for the Tigers.

INDIANS 2, MARLINS 0

In Cleveland, Jeanmar Gomez pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning and Asdrubal Cabrera homered to lead Cleveland past Miami.